Fitchburg offices to move out of City Hall

After 160 years in City Hall on Main Street, city departments will move into one location at Putnam Place on Boulder Drive by the end of September, if all goes according to plan.

Mayor Lisa A. Wong says two locations for city offices is not necessary.

Officials have been racing against the clock for the relocation because Building Commissioner Robert Lanciano said he is closing City Hall the first substantial snowfall. Repairs to make the building safe for occupants are required, he said.

Councilors were looking at three options, including leasing space for the treasurer's and city clerk's offices at either Fidelity Co-Operative Bank at 675 Main St. or Rollstone Bank & Trust at 780 Main St. and leasing space for most of the remaining offices at Putnam Place.

In an email Friday, Ms. Wong said a space planner hired by the city worked with department heads to come up with a viable solution.

“After working with the space planner and department heads for the past few weeks, detailing storage and office needs, Fitchburg will be moving forward with finalizing a lease at Putnam Place for approximately 8,700 square feet of built office space plus an additional 2,500 square feet of space for storage, IT and printing,” she wrote.

“The city will locate all offices within the Putnam Place site and will not require a second location.”

Ms. Wong said previously City Hall will need to be vacated either way – if officials decide to demolish the building or complete the necessary repairs needed to make it safe.